Course listings | Case Western Reserve University

Term: Spring 2024

USNA 220: Suburban Landscapes: Nature, Technology, and Culture (100/11459)

MW 12:45-02:00 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Haydar, M

This course will focus on the influence of immigration, labor, race, and socioeconomic class in the history of cities and suburbs.

USNA 220: Suburban Landscapes: Nature, Technology, and Culture (101/11460)

MW 03:20-04:35 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Haydar, M

This course will focus on the influence of immigration, labor, race, and socioeconomic class in the history of cities and suburbs.

USNA 287H: Plants in Medicine (100/10793)

MW 12:45-02:00 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Olbricht, E

Plants have always been the basis of medicinal treatments, and as they continue to be essential to modern forms of medicine, alternative and traditional alike. In this course, we will consider the history of how humans have used particular plants for medicinal purposes, such as the cinchona tree (Cinchona officinalis) for quinine, willow bark (Salix) for aspirin, and the yew tree (Taxus baccata) for the cancer medication paclitaxel. By investigating how a plant is used medicinally through time, we will also come to understand the culture that used it and how they conceived of health in relationship to nature. We will read texts that show how a plant's medicinal uses can be tied to colonialism and global exploration. For example, the first botanical gardens were collections of medicinal plants cultivated for use and experimentation, often containing non-native plant-based cures discovered through colonial contact. While this is not a course in botany per se, we will be discussing basic plant biology, cultivation practices, and the contemporary science of using plants as the basis for pharmaceutical cures. Students should be active course participants in class discussion and on field trips. Writing instruction will focus on research-based argument, and students will complete a researched essay focusing on a medicinal plant of their choice.

USNA 287J: Transportation in American Life (100/10797)

TR 11:30-12:45 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Maier, H

We will explore the critical role of transportation in the development of our cities, regions, states, and nation. The course will consider the historic role of transportation, its current role, and what role it might play in the future. Transportation will be viewed in the context of national policies, overall political will, and our culture at large. Since colonial times, transportation, in its many forms, has been the subject of intense debate, governmental policies, as well as the subject of public and private investment. We will see how certain individuals and groups used ego, power, and wealth to use transportation for shaping the nation's commerce, travel patterns, and physical appearance. We'll also see the evolution of government and business in transportation decisions and funding. Finally, because of transportation's daily impact, we will look at current issues as part of every class. We will especially focus on the transportation issues of northeast Ohio, a microcosm of national transportation issues. Some of these issues include funding, decision-making, land use, "suburban sprawl," and economic development. We'll also look at transportation issues specific to the University Circle area such as the Health Line and the proposed "Opportunity Corridor."

USNA 287S: Society and Natural Resources (100/10800)

MW 06:20-07:35 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Hardy, S

The relationship between humans and the natural world can be defined in large part by how societies manage natural resources. In this seminar, students will analyze how society-environment interactions have undergone substantial shifts over time...from John Locke's Labor Theory of Value and the rise of utilitarian conservation to more recent approaches based on ecosystem management that emphasize ecological integrity and stakeholder collaboration. Course readings will challenge students to think critically about how humans conceptualize and impact the environment. Class time will be spent discussing the evolution of effective human-ecological systems interactions as outlined in the readings, as well as reviewing student reflection papers that connect course concepts to real word scenarios.

USNA 288B: The Green Energy Transformation in Germany (100/10799)

TR 02:30-03:45 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Yang, P

This seminar introduces students to the development and successes of green technologies in Germany. We will examine the proactive development of renewable energy and energy conservation technologies, commonly referred to as Energiewende, that was started by the German Green movement and promoted by Germany's innovative renewable energy policies. We will consider such questions as: What are the implications of this German success story, both for the US and the rest of the world? What lessons can be applied to other situations? What factors might limit the utility of those lessons? In the process of our investigation, we will examine such important issues as globalization, resource finiteness, and sustainability challenges, including economic crises, climate change, energy insecurity, and global competition.

USNA 288I: Beyond Silicon Valley: Growing Entrepreneurship in Transitioning Economies (100/11205)

TR 11:30-12:45 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Cashon, T; Goldberg, M

The path for entrepreneurs to grow their companies outside of well-developed entrepreneurial ecosystems like Silicon Valley is challenging. Most markets around the world do not look like Silicon Valley and they never will. But there are other models to support new businesses. In transitioning markets (where entrepreneurs do not have much access to private sector financing), government officials, donors, and business leaders are experimenting with creative approaches to support the growth of entrepreneurs. Cleveland is one such place exploring innovative approaches to support new businesses. For over ten years, there has been a massive intervention of government and donor resources to cultivate this entrepreneurial ecosystem. Has this intervention worked in Cleveland? How should success be measured? How does Cleveland's approach differ from approaches elsewhere around the world? In an unusual twist for a SAGES seminar, the regular classroom discussions will be complemented by your enrollment in a massive open online course (MOOC) that I developed for CWRU. The MOOC is called "Beyond Silicon Valley: Growing Entrepreneurship in Transitioning Economies" and examines the Cleveland case study in depth. The course has attracted over 44,000 students from 190 countries since its launch in April 2014. So, not only will you explore how communities around the world support entrepreneurship, you will also learn about the rapidly developing field of online learning and MOOCs.

USNA 288W: Medieval Sciences and Human Difference: How Did Medieval Peoples Define Humanity? (100/11294)

MW 03:20-04:35 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Nielson, L

Since the beginning of recorded history, humans have employed different approaches to defining themselves in relation to the natural world. Along with folklore, religion and philosophy, science has been an important means to define concepts we now refer to as race/ethnicity, dis/ability, sexuality, and gender. However, what constituted science and scientific inquiry varied widely based on culture and historical context. Most recently, our advancing understanding of genetics has produced ever more nuanced definitions of human difference, even as we have come to recognize that such explanations often compete with theories that are grounded in social and cultural values, rather than scientific observation. How did people explain human diversity in the 1000 years before the Scientific Revolution unfolded in Europe? In this seminar, we will investigate how different medieval cultures explained humanity and human diversity by sampling examples of medical observation, philosophy, theories about the natural world, cultural prejudice, and religious belief. In particular, we will consider how Greek, Roman, Chinese, Indian, Islamicate, and early European theories of human difference shaped justifications for conquest as, gender roles and sexuality, often in surprising ways. Questions we will ask include: How did medieval people differentiate humans from animals? Did they use the same categories of race, gender, and sexuality that we use? How did scientific thinking evolve to construct these taxonomies of difference? How were ideas shared cross-culturally? To explore these questions, we will read primary texts in translation from the medieval period. Through our discussions, we will consider not only what other approaches to defining human differences can teach us, but how they provide historical insight into frameworks and assumptions about diversity today.

USNA 289E: Medieval Robots (100/10798)

TR 01:00-02:15 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Parkin, G

The medieval world had robots. Some were housed in medieval churches where altarpieces with angels could move, ascending and descending during celebrations. Others appeared in travel narratives like those of Marco Polo. During his visit to the Mongols, the merchant and explorer described gold peacocks whose wings flapped and mechanical drinking fountains. Still others are detailed in literature. Authors of romances have Arthur's knights fighting automaton warriors to gain entry into castles and receiving gifts like teleporting brass horses. While machines in the medieval period were not as ubiquitous as they are in our modern lives, they posed many of the same questions and concerns that we have about our own technology. Writers frequently incorporated robots into travel narratives and poetry to identify exotic or foreign cultures, and such details can tell us much about racial and political identity in the period. Further, automatons and machines could be used as examples of dangerous luxury or viewed as marvels of engineering that challenged the boundaries between what was created by human hands and by God. This class will use a variety of texts and artifacts--medieval literature, blueprints, and art alongside current writings about the ethics of AI--to think about the role of machines in the medieval world and in our own modern lives. In addition to talking and writing about examples of medieval machines and technology, students will also build their own machines using think[box].

USNA 289R: Science on Trial (100/10947)

MW 12:45-02:00 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Rothman, A

Universities, laboratories, and scientific journals are not the only places where questions of science are debated and settled; in the modern era, they are often decided in courts of law as well. In this seminar, we will focus on a range of examples in which scientific questions have been adjudicated in the courtroom. Questions to be considered are: How are judges or juries supposed to evaluate questions of science? Who decides what counts as science, or what counts as scientific consensus? What counts as expertise, and what counts as evidence when it comes to deciding a case that hinges on questions of science? Are legal facts ever different from scientific facts? By the end of the course, students will have a new understanding of the role of science in the modern world and the complicated intersections between science, society, and the law.

USNA 289U: Pipes, Potholes, and Pathogens: Infrastructure Issues in the USA (100/10794)

MW 03:20-04:35 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Beim, G

The poor condition of the nation's infrastructure--its roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, drinking water systems, wastewater systems, and more--has been widely reported. In fact, the infrastructure is so bad that fixing it offers a rare opportunity for bipartisanship. And yet, as the grades given by the American Society of Civil Engineers in its quadrennial Report Card indicate, conditions remain dismal. In this seminar, we will study the structures and systems that constitute national infrastructure, the tools used to evaluate its condition, and the challenges of monitoring, maintaining, and repairing it. What metrics are used to grade various infrastructure categories? Do these metrics accurately describe conditions in a meaningful way? What does it mean to say that the condition of bridges, for example, is a "C" or a "D?" How should government agencies use this information when prioritizing spending? Is it better to repair or replace? Are some categories more important than others? Is it better, for example, to address drinking water before dams, or sewers before roads? How should spending be distributed geographically and socially? Should spending be spread evenly, or is it better to target urban, suburban, or rural settings? To answer these questions, we will investigate examples from Northeast Ohio.

USNA 290A: The History of Medical Technology in Twelve Artifacts (100/10796)

TR 10:00-11:15 AM Jan 16-Apr 29

Mahoney, A

Drawing upon the Dittrick Medical History Center's artifact collections, this seminar examines the history of medical technology with an emphasis on the complex and increasingly influential role of technology in the U.S. healthcare system during the twentieth century. It explores the development and implementation of new innovations as well as the consequences, both intended and unintended, of our reliance upon such medical devices. Technology (artifacts, techniques, and technical knowledge) is not neutral, it is shaped by society and culture. This class will explore the intersections between medical technology and race, gender, sexuality, and ability and their implications for emerging innovations. In addition to discussing assigned readings, in-class activities will include workshops with Dittrick Museum artifacts and informal individual student presentations. Students will also learn how to write for different audiences by creating exhibit labels, social media content, and exhibition concepts for Dittrick Museum artifacts.

USNA 290E: Viruses and Human Disease (100/10792)

MWF 09:30-10:20 AM Jan 16-Apr 29

Gott, J

This course will cover basic understanding of virus biology, how viruses can cause human diseases, and the impact of viral epidemics on human society. These topics will be discussed in terms of scientific and medical studies, public health policy, and social impact. Several major virus-caused human pandemics will be reviewed. Discussions will include how government, the health care industry, and the general public responded to the pandemics. As an exercise to apply the lessons learned from viral pandemics in the past, during the course of the semester the class will "design" a novel virus and then discuss the approaches and resources that will be necessary to contain and combat the resulting pandemic.

USNA 290H: Our Technological Future(s) (100/10795)

MW 04:50-06:05 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Rager, M

Our current moment, The Anthropocene, is an epoch defined by humanity's unique ability to alter the Earth's climate, landscapes, and ecosystems on a global level. Given that the climate crisis is a direct result of our modern technologies and attitudes, with the most vulnerable disproportionately bearing the brunt of global change, the question now is: are new technocratic solutions the answer to combating climate change? Can these solutions reduce inequality, or are they destined to reproduce the imbalances of our current moment? This seminar will examine new technologies that promise to mitigate the effects of climate change, from the immediate and practical (solar power, carbon reduction) to the more far reaching (terraforming Mars, mining asteroids). We will also read key texts in environmental studies and ecological theory that explore and critique the core ideological assumptions embedded in technocratic solutions. We will explore how our very concept of Nature, and our relationship to said Nature, shapes our thinking when it comes to our possible futures, and we will consider how, historically, new technological solution, have been shaped by, and further solidified, inequalities of race, class, and gender. Alongside the scientific and theoretical texts, the seminar will also include speculative fiction that imaginatively projects far into the future to expand our sense of what is possible. A final research project will revolve around the concept of Cleveland 2072. Students will research and explore a specific challenge currently facing Cleveland or the greater Great Lakes region. Using the concepts from the course, they will explore possible solutions, as well as potential complications, to imagine what our world could be 50 years from now.

USNA 290H: Our Technological Future(s) (101/11203)

MW 03:20-04:35 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Rager, M

USNA 290I: The Biology of Creativity (100/11206)

TR 01:00-02:15 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Moawad, H

This course examines the cognitive and physiological aspects of creativity, with a focus on the physiological response of both the artist and the consumer of creative work. For instance, when you admire a painting, a piece of music, or clever bit of code, what is going on in your heart and mind? Likewise, when you create something beautiful or wonderfully useful, what happens in your heart and mind? Then from these discussions we will turn to other questions: Does our response differ when the creative product is more realistic as opposed to abstract? ls creativity learned or is it innate and what scientific evidence can be brought to bear on this matter? How might creativity and art appreciation be enhanced by an understanding of cognition and physiology?

USNA 290I: The Biology of Creativity (101/11207)

TR 02:30-03:45 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Moawad, H

USNA 290I: The Biology of Creativity (102/11208)

TR 04:00-05:15 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Moawad, H

USNA 290K: The Neurobiology of Trauma (100/11065)

TR 10:00-11:15 AM Jan 16-Apr 29

Bedell, A

Can your body remember trauma? In what ways does unhealed trauma manifest within individuals and society? How does trauma spill from one generation to the next? This course provides an overview and theoretical background of trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and the impact of early trauma and toxic stress have on individuals, communities, and organizations. We will explore the wide range of manifestations and responses to trauma from the cognitive, emotional, interpersonal, and physical perspectives. A focus will be placed on the neurobiological effects of adversity on brain development and how health and learning can be affected throughout the lifespan. In addition to adversity experienced at the individual level, we will also explore the prevalence and impact of trauma experienced at the community level. Through varying projects that develop writing, critical thinking, and communication skills, our class will engage with evidence-based approaches and trauma-informed frameworks that promote healing and recovery. Students will not only become aware of trauma, its prevalence, and related effects, but they will also develop a deeper understanding of those affected by trauma and apply this knowledge to their own life, to those around them, to their communities, and to their professions.

USNA 290K: The Neurobiology of Trauma (101/11066)

TR 11:30-12:45 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Bedell, A

USNA 290K: The Neurobiology of Trauma (102/11188)

TR 04:00-05:15 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Bedell, A

USNA 290L: The Science and Practice of High-Impact Teamwork (100/11262)

TR 02:30-03:45 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Reimschisel, T

It is no exaggeration to say that we have been working in teams throughout the history of humankind. But it is important that we not equate experience with expertise. There is an enormous body of literature on the science of teamwork, yet most individuals have never had any formal training or feedback on their teamwork skills in a workplace setting. We know that this lack of formal education and training on effective workplace teamwork is detrimental to our future success. Based on the science of teamwork, in this course you will learn the mindset, knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are essential for high-impact teamwork while completing an authentic and meaningful, campus-based team project. The team projects will be sponsored by CWRU campus entities and will be focused on addressing the health, mental health, or well-being of our students, staff, faculty, or our entire community. We will focus on individual- and team-level attributes that are important for high-impact teamwork, including self-reflection, self-regulation, curiosity, vulnerability, interpersonal communication, project management, team leadership, giving and receiving deconstructive feedback, conflict management, and negotiation skills. We will use a variety of educational formats, including independent study, self-reflection, small group discussions and exercises, team challenges, large group discussions and debriefs, individual and team written assignments, experiential learning, and team presentations.

USNA 290M: Humans vs. Computers: Will Artificial Intelligence Write Us Out of Existence? (100/11263)

TR 04:00-05:15 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Schaffer, M

Controversy about artificial intelligence (AI) is brewing, raising important questions about how technology is changing our worlds and what it means to be "intelligent." Is there something special about "natural" human intelligence that cannot be replicated artificially? Some say this newest technological advancement is different from those in the past that have worried and frightened us. Others say the capacities of current AI are leading us down a path that will irrevocably change what it means to be human. In this course, we will take up these questions, with particular attention to AI text generation, which seems to strike at our very identities as language users. These particular technologies have implications for education, medicine, law, and journalism, among other industries. What are the risks and benefits of AI to us as humans, students, and then as professionals? How can we understand our relationship with AI? How can we come to understand, use, and develop literacy with AI language modules? We will explore these and other questions that we raise through a series of readings and writing projects. We will experiment with AI text generators like ChatGPT and Bard, we will research the various contemporary perspectives on AI, and we will debate to come to our own positions on this inevitable feature of our current and future lives.

USNA 290N: Aging Well (100/11292)

TR 02:30-03:45 PM Jan 16-Apr 29

Juratovac, E

People around the world are living longer. Researchers have examined human aging, and explored factors that contribute to highest possible wellness for older people. What does it mean for people to age well? Do current explanations about promoting longevity, retaining physical and mental abilities, and maintaining social connectedness fit people's experiences? In this seminar, students will consider current explanations regarding the physiological, psychological, sociological, cultural, and spiritual dimensions that contribute to aging well. Students will analyze programs and services that could support aging well. Students cannot receive credit for both USSO 291R and USNA 290N.

USNA 290O: What is Making and Manufacturing Today, and Why is Innovation Part of the Story? (100/11293)

TR 08:30-09:45 AM Jan 16-Apr 29

Camp, L

The rise of the creative class into the world of "making" has resulted in new economic models, new definitions of manufacturing, and new ways of working. "Making" is inclusive of a wide variety of activities, from arts & crafts, to woodworking, to high technology integrating with traditional craftsmanship and individualized customization, to products with embedded sensors in traditional materials, to the use of 3D printing of everything from polymers to metals to chocolate. Within all of these approaches, "innovation" is often the buzzword, the common denominator. What does innovation mean in this context? Are innovators and makers today any different from the innovators and manufacturers of the past? What ethics are associated with the decisions related to new idea development and scale up? Through both a hands-on and historical approach, we will explore the commonalities between makers and manufacturers, and arrive at an understanding of innovation and apply this understanding to a project that could continue beyond your time at CWRU.